Chromatin organization re-viewed.

The predominant view of chromatin structure is that the beaded chain of nucleosomes is folded into a symmetrical helical fibre. Recently, however, direct evidence from cryoelectron microscopy and other imaging techniques confirms a non-symmetrical organization, consistent with modelling based on the heterogeneity of linker DNA lengths. This mode of chromatin folding is more compatible with the range of functional states in the living nucleus.